Garment system

ABSTRACT

Outerwear garment systems are disclosed having separate components that provide protection from environmental conditions and easy access to protective equipment and accessories for military and non-military uses.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 61/586,213, filed Jan.13, 2012. the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to garment systems. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to outerwear garment systems havingseparate components that provide protection from environmentalconditions and easy access to protective equipment and accessories formilitary and non-military uses.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Outerwear for inclement weather protection is typically in the form of ajacket or parka for the upper portion of the body and pants or bibs forthe legs. Some forms of ponchos are also used but they do not offer themobility needed for most users, especially those in the military. Theuse of a traditional military parka by personnel in combat roles isproblematic, especially since most personnel generally wear some form ofbody armor. In addition to protection, the front of the torso body armorserves as a carrier for ammunition and other equipment that must bereadily accessible. If the user wears the parka under the body armor,then the user finds it cumbersome, if not impossible, to quickly andeasily don and doff the parka. With changing exertion levels and climateconditions, this is a major shortcoming of the garment system.

Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a garment system thatprotects the user while providing flexibility based on mission,exertion, and climate conditions. The garment systems of the presentinvention are directed toward these, as well as other, important ends.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to outerwear garment systems havingseparate components that provide protection from environmentalconditions and easy access to protective equipment and accessories formilitary and non-military uses, such as security personnel, policepersonnel, firefighting personnel, ski patrol, utility personnel, rescuepersonnel, and industrial personnel.

Accordingly, in one embodiment, the invention is directed to garmentsystems, comprising:

a torso covering member; and

-   -   a separate external upper back and shoulder covering member;    -   wherein said garment system is adapted to incorporate a        releasable member, such as releasable body armor, gear, or a        combination thereof between said torso covering member and said        separate upper back and shoulder covering member.

In other embodiments, the invention is directed to garment systems,comprising: a plurality of torso covering members, each torso coveringmember optionally formed from a different material or a combination ofdifferent materials: and

a plurality of separate external upper back and shoulder coveringmembers, each separate external upper back and shoulder covering memberoptionally formed from a different material or a combination ofdifferent materials;

wherein each torso covering member is optionally formed from a materialthe same as or different from each of said separate external upper backand shoulder covering member;

wherein said garment system is adapted to incorporate a releasablemember between said torso covering member and said separate upper backand shoulder covering member; and wherein each one of said torsocovering member can be used with any of said separate external upperback and shoulder covering member.

In another embodiment, the invention is directed to methods of quicklyreleasing body armor, comprising:

donning a garment system, comprising:

-   -   an optional torso covering member;    -   a separate external upper back and shoulder covering member;    -   a releasable wherein said releasable body armor member is        located between said torso body armor comprising a quick release        mechanism;    -   covering member and said separate upper back and shoulder        covering member; and wherein said releasable body armor may be        released from said garment system without first removing said        separate external upper back and shoulder covering member or        said torso covering member;

doffing said releasable body armor by using said quick release mechanismwithout first removing said separate external upper back and shouldercovering member or said optional torso covering member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention andtogether with the description serve to explain the principles of theinvention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1A is a front perspective view of a garment system in accordancewith a preferred embodiment of the invention, shown with the optionalreleasable body armor.

FIG. 1B is a back perspective view of a garment system in accordancewith a preferred embodiment of the invention, shown with the optionalreleasable body armor.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view in exploded form of a garment system inaccordance with the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1, shown with theoptional releasable body armor.

FIG. 3A is a front perspective view of the torso covering member of agarment system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of theinvention, shown with the optional collar.

FIG. 3B is a front perspective view of the torso covering member of agarment system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of theinvention, shown without the optional collar.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view in exploded form of a garment systemin accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, shownwithout the optional releasable body armor.

FIG. 5A is a front perspective view of the upper back and shouldercovering member of a garment system in accordance with a preferredembodiment of the invention, shown with the optional head coveringmember.

FIG. 5B is a back perspective view of the upper back and shouldercovering member of a garment system in accordance with a preferredembodiment of the invention, shown without the optional head coveringmember.

FIG. 5C is a front perspective view of the upper back and shouldercovering member of a garment system in accordance with a preferredembodiment of the invention, shown with the optional head coveringmember.

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the releasable body armor of agarment system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 7A is a front perspective view of the torso covering member of agarment system and optional releasable body armor in accordance with apreferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7B is a front perspective view in exploded view of the torsocovering member of a garment system and optional releasable body armorin accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view in exploded view of the upper backand shoulder covering member and optional releasable body armor inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of the torso covering member of agarment system with optional leg covering members in accordance with apreferred embodiment of the invention.

The figures referred to above are not drawn necessarily to scale andshould be understood to present a representation of the invention,illustrative of the principles involved. Some features of the garmentsystems depicted in the drawings have been enlarged or distortedrelative to others to facilitate explanation and understanding. The samereference numbers are used in the drawings for similar or identicalcomponents and features shown in various alternative embodiments.Garment systems as disclosed herein, will have configurations andcomponents determined, in part, by the intended application andenvironment in which they are used.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As employed above and throughout the disclosure, the following terms,unless otherwise indicated, shall be understood to have the followingmeanings.

As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include theplural reference, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

As described in greater detail below, the present invention is directedto a garment including a torso covering member and an upper back andshoulder covering member. In certain preferred embodiments, a garmentsystem includes a plurality of torso covering members and upper back andshoulder covering members. The members may have differentconfigurations, allowing different combinations of these elements toprovide garments having, for example, a variety of aesthetic designs,different weather protecting characteristics and various levels ofthermal protection. Thus, a user can have a single garment systemcapable of adapting to a variety of conditions or uses.

Accordingly, in one embodiment, the invention is directed to garmentsystems, comprising:

a torso covering member; and

-   -   a separate external upper back and shoulder covering member;    -   wherein said garment system is adapted to incorporate a        releasable member, such as releasable body armor, gear, or a        combination thereof, between said torso covering member and said        separate upper back and shoulder covering member. The garment        systems provides flexible protection from the climate        conditions, permits ready access to necessary equipment and        supplies (such as weapons, ammunition, harnesses, first aid        supplies, and other critical equipment), yet permits the wearer        to quickly and easily don and doff the releasable member (such        as releasable body armor, gear, or a combination thereof), if        worn. The releasable member is removable by a user without        removing said separate external upper back and shoulder covering        member.

In other embodiments, the invention is directed to garment systems,comprising:

a plurality of torso covering members, each torso covering memberoptionally formed from a different material or a combination ofdifferent materials: and

-   -   a plurality of separate external upper back and shoulder        covering members, each separate external upper back and shoulder        covering member optionally formed from a different material or a        combination of different materials;

wherein each torso covering member is optionally formed from a materialthe same as or different from each of said separate external upper backand shoulder covering member;

wherein said garment system is adapted to incorporate a releasablemember between said torso covering member and said separate upper backand shoulder covering member; and

-   -   wherein each one of said torso covering member can be used with        any of said separate external upper back and shoulder covering        member.

The system permits a user to switch out the torso covering member and/orthe external upper back and shoulder covering member depending upon theenvironmental conditions (such as temperature, humidity, precipitation,and/or wind) and use conditions (such as use under high exertionconditions or use in the poor light).

In preferred embodiments, the garment systems further comprise areleasable member, such as releasable body armor, gear, or a combinationthereof The releasable member is removable by a user without removingsaid separate external upper back and shoulder covering member. Inembodiments with the releasable body armor, the wearer may remove thebody armor by pulling a device on the armor, usually a handle made ofwebbing, disconnecting its joining points at the shoulder and sides,making the individual panels of the armor fall to the ground. Thisquick-releasability and a garment system which accommodates thereleasable body armor are critical for the wearer's safety. For example,if a soldier, who is wearing body armor, especially one loaded withammunition and equipment, falls into the water, he or she is likely todrown unless the soldier can drop the heavy body armor.

In certain embodiments, the separate external upper back and shouldercovering member comprises two sleeve portions connected by a yokeportion incorporating a neckhole. The sleeves may be long sleeves orpartial sleeves. In certain embodiments, the separate external upperback and shoulder covering member further comprises a head coveringmember, such as a hat or protective helmet, attached to at least aportion of said neckhole. The head covering member may be releasablyattached or permanently attached to said neckhole, using, for examplereleasably connected fasteners and permanent fasteners, such as, forexample, zipper, snaps, buttons, magnets, hook-and-loop, grommets,stitching, screw and bolt, and the like and combinations thereof. Insome embodiments, there is no head covering member, such as, forexample, when the user is wearing a separate protective helmet. Incertain embodiments, the separate external upper back and shouldercovering member further comprises at least one storage member, such as apocket to hold equipment and accessories. In certain embodiments, theseparate external upper back and shoulder covering member furthercomprises a releasable fastener, such as, for example, zipper, snaps,buttons, magnets, hook-and-loop, and combinations thereof). In certainembodiments, the releasable fastener releasably may connect two portionsof the yoke section together. The yoke sections may be substantiallysymmetric or may be asymmetric.

In certain embodiments, the torso covering member comprises a frontportion and a back portion. In certain embodiments, the torso coveringmember further comprises at least one fastener, including releasablyconnected fasteners and permanent fasteners, such as, for example,zipper, snaps, buttons, magnets, hook-and-loop, grommets, stitching,screw and bolt, and the like and combinations thereof). In certainembodiments, the torso covering member further comprises a collar. Incertain embodiments, the torso covering member comprises has a storagemember (for example, a pocket with or without a releasable connector,that is configured to receive upper back and shoulder covering member toprovide for storage of upper back and shoulder covering member when notin use. In certain embodiments, the torso covering member furthercomprises leg covering members, such a pant legs, which may or may notbe detachable.

The torso covering member and the upper back and shoulder coveringmember may be made from a variety of materials depending upon theconditions of the environment and end uses. In certain embodiments, thetorso covering member may be made from different materials than theseparate external upper back and shoulder covering member. In certainembodiments, the torso covering member may be made from the samematerials as the separate external upper back and shoulder coveringmember.

In systems with a plurality of torso covering members, it is preferredthat each torso covering member is made from a different material thateach of the other torso covering members. Likewise, in systems with aplurality of separate external upper back and shoulder covering members,it is preferred that each separate external upper back and shouldercovering member is made from a different material than each of the otherseparate external upper back and shoulder covering member.

In certain embodiments, the torso covering member and/or the separateexternal upper back and shoulder covering member may be made of amaterial that is water-resistant, waterproof, wind-resistant, or acombination thereof, to provide either moisture or wind protectionappropriate for the climate and use conditions. Suitable materialsinclude, but are not limited to, nylon, latex, waterproof heavy-dutycotton drill or poplin, wool gabardine, animal skin, and the like.Examples of materials include those conventionally used in softshells(wind resistant, highly breathable and often water resistant) and winterparkas or anoraks (warmth and wind resistant).

In certain embodiments, the torso covering member and/or the separateexternal upper back and shoulder covering may be made of a material thatprovides thermal protection, i.e., to provide warmth appropriate for theclimate and use conditions. Suitable materials include, but are notlimited to, fleece, wool, animal skin, fur, faux fur, and the like.Examples of materials include those conventionally used in rain gear(waterproof and wind resistant) and winter parkas or anoraks (warmth andwind resistant).

In certain embodiments, it may be preferable to have a torso coveringmember that provides thermal protection and a separate external upperback and shoulder covering member that provides water-resistance andwind-resistance.

In certain embodiments, it may be preferable to have a torso coveringmember and a separate external upper back and shoulder covering memberhaving, at least a 20% difference in a selected property, such asthermal resistance. For example, the torso covering member may have an Rvalue of about 0.1 m² ° C./W and the separate external upper back andshoulder covering member may have an R value greater than about 0.12 m²° C./W.

In certain embodiments, it may be preferable to have the torso coveringmember and/or the upper back and shoulder covering member made fromfabrics and/or fibers that provide tire resistance, arc protection,moisture management (water release rate, wicking, and drying time),abrasion resistance antistatic, and/or no melt-no drip properties.

In certain embodiments, it may be preferable to have the torso coveringmember and/or the separate external upper back and shoulder coveringmember made from fabrics and/or fibers that provide comfort, such ascompositions disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,888,914 and U.S. Pat. No.7,402,555, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

In certain embodiments, it may be preferable to have the torso coveringmember and/or the separate external upper back and shoulder coveringmember made from fabrics and/or fibers that incorporate odor control.

In certain embodiments, it may be preferably to provide the torsocovering member and/or the separate external upper back and shouldercovering member made from materials that provide infrared reflectance orabsorbance.

In certain embodiments, it may be preferably to provide the torsocovering member and/or the separate external upper back and shouldercovering member made from materials that are colored, dyed (such as witha high visibility dye), or printed (such as with camouflage).

In certain embodiments, a method quickly releasing body armor,comprising:

donning a garment system, comprising:

-   -   an optional torso covering member;    -   a separate external upper back and shoulder covering member;    -   a releasable body armor comprising a quick release mechanism;    -   wherein said releasable body armor member is located between        said torso covering member and said separate upper back and        shoulder covering member; and    -   wherein said releasable body armor may be released from said        garment system without first removing said separate external        upper back and shoulder covering member or said torso covering        member;    -   doffing said releasable body armor by using said quick release        mechanism without first removing said separate external upper        back and shoulder covering member or said optional torso        covering member.

A preferred embodiment of a garment system 2 in accordance with thepresent invention is shown in FIG. 1A. The back view of the garmentsystem 2 with optional releasable body armor 8 and optional hood 13 isshown in FIG. 1B. Garment system 2 is shown in exploded view in FIG. 2.Garment system 2 may include a torso covering member 4, an upper hackand shoulder covering member 6, and an optional releasable body armor 8.In the illustrated embodiment in FIG. 1A, torso covering member 4includes an optional collar 8. In the illustrated embodiment, upper backand shoulder covering member 6 includes sleeves 10 a and 10 b, shownhere as long sleeves, yoke portion 11, optional storage portions 12 a,12 b or pockets, and an optional head covering member 13, shown here asa hood attached to the neckhole 14. It is to be appreciated that each oftorso covering members 4 could have short sleeves, long sleeves, partialsleeves or no sleeves at all. It is to be further appreciated that eachback and shoulder covering member 6 could have short sleeves, longsleeves, or partial sleeves.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the torso covering member 4 is worn by anindividual as a shirt, jacket, or vest, substantially covering his orher torso and, in the embodiment illustrated with the optional collar 9and without sleeves. In a preferred embodiment, torso covering member 4has a pocket 16 that is configured to receive upper back and shouldercovering member 6 to provide for storage of upper back and shouldercovering member When not in use. In FIG. 3B, the torso covering member 4is shown without the optional collar.

In a preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 3A, torso covering member 4 hasa pocket 11 that is configured to receive upper back and shouldercovering member 6 to provide for storage of upper back and shouldercovering member 6 when not in use. In the illustrated embodiment, pocket11 is positioned on the back of torso covering member 4. It is to beappreciated that pocket 11 can be located elsewhere on torso coveringmember 4, e.g., on the back.

Upper back and shoulder covering member 6 is configured to be worn ontop of torso covering member 4, as described in greater detail below, asshown without the optional releasable body armor 8, in FIG. 4.

Shown individually with optional hood 13 in FIG. 5A, upper back andshoulder covering member 6 provides a second layer of material for atleast the upper back and shoulders of an individual and for at least aportion of the aims of the individual as well. The yoke portion 11 maybe secured with a releasable fastener 15, such as hook and loopfastener(s), button(s), snap(s), magnet(s), tie strings, and the likereleasable fasteners. The upper back and shoulder covering member 6 isshown in FIG. 5B without the optional head covering member. The backview of the upper back and shoulder covering member 6 with optional headcovering member 13 is shown in FIG. 5C.

Optional releasable body armor 8 is shown in FIG. 6. When it is worn, itis positioned over the torso covering member 4, as shown in FIG. 7A andFIG. 7B (exploded view), and positioned under the upper back andshoulder covering member 6, as shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 9 shows an alternate embodiment where the torso covering portionincludes optional leg covering members 16 a, 16 b.

When ranges are used herein for physical properties, such as molecularweight, or chemical properties, such as chemical formulae, allcombinations, and subcombinations of ranges specific embodiments hereinare intended to be included.

The disclosures of each patent, patent application, and publicationcited or described in this document are hereby incorporated herein byreference, in their entirety.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous changes andmodifications can be made to the preferred embodiments of the inventionand that such changes and modifications can be made without departingfrom the spirit of the invention. It is, therefore, intended that theappended claims cover all such equivalent variations as fall within thetrue spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A garment system, comprising: a torso coveringmember; and a separate external upper back and shoulder covering member;wherein said garment system is adapted to incorporate a releasablemember between said torso covering member and said separate upper backand shoulder covering member.
 2. A garment system of claim 1, whereinsaid releasable member is body armor, gear, or a combination thereof. 3.A garment system of claim 1, further comprising: releasable body armor.4. A garment system of claim 1, wherein said releasable member isremovable by a riser without removing said separate external upper backand shoulder covering member.
 5. A garment system of claim 1, whereinsaid separate external upper back and shoulder covering member comprisestwo sleeve portions connected by a yoke portion incorporating aneckhole.
 6. A garment system of claim 5, wherein said separate externalupper back and shoulder covering member further comprises a headcovering member attached to at least a portion of said neckhole.
 7. Agarment system of claim 1, wherein said sleeve portions are longsleeves.
 8. A garment system of claim 5, wherein said separate externalupper back and shoulder covering member further comprises at least onestorage member.
 9. A garment system of claim 1, wherein said torsocovering member comprises a front portion, a back portion, and anoptional fastener.
 10. A garment system of claim 9, wherein said torsocovering member further comprises a collar.
 11. A garment system ofclaim 9, wherein said torso covering member further comprises legcovering members.
 12. A garment system of claim 1, wherein said torsocovering member is made from different materials than said separateexternal upper back and shoulder covering member.
 13. A garment systemof claim 1, wherein said separate external upper back and shouldercovering is water-resistant, waterproof, wind-resistant, or acombination thereof.
 14. A garment system of claim 1, wherein saidseparate external upper back and shoulder covering provides thermalprotection.
 15. A garment system of claim 1, wherein said torso coveringmember provides thermal protection.
 16. A garment system of claim 1,wherein said torso covering member provides fire resistance, arcprotection, moisture management, abrasion resistance, antistaticproperties, no melt-no drip properties, or a combination thereof.
 17. Agarment system of claim 1, wherein said separate external upper back andshoulder covering provides fire resistance, arc protection, moisturemanagement, abrasion resistance, antistatic properties, no melt-no dripproperties, or a combination thereof.
 18. A garment system, comprising:a plurality of torso covering members, each torso covering, memberoptionally formed from a different material or a combination ofdifferent materials; and a plurality of separate external upper back andshoulder covering members, each separate external upper back andshoulder covering member optionally formed from a different material ora combination of different materials; wherein each torso covering memberis optionally formed from a material the same as or different from eachof said separate external upper back and shoulder covering member;wherein said garment system is adapted to incorporate a releasablemember between said torso covering member and said separate upper backand shoulder covering member; and wherein each one of said torsocovering member can be used with any of said separate external upperback and shoulder covering member.
 19. A garment system of claim 18,wherein said releasable member is body armor, gear, or a combinationthereof.
 20. A garment system of claim 19, further comprising: at leastone releasable body armor.
 21. A method of quickly releasing body armor,comprising: donning a garment system, comprising: an optional torsocovering member; a separate external upper back and shoulder coveringmember; a releasable body armor comprising a quick release mechanism;wherein said releasable body armor member is located between said torsocovering member and said separate upper back and Shoulder coveringmember; and wherein said releasable body armor may be released from saidgarment system without first removing said separate external upper backand shoulder covering member or said optional torso covering member:doffing said releasable body armor by using said quick release mechanismwithout first removing said separate external upper back and shouldercovering member or said optional torso covering member.